1838.] Phoonja. 595 



yet the mines at the places noted below* are most productive as I was 

 informed. 



The furnace used by the Chinese is about three feet high and one 

 foot and a half in diameter at top, and nearly the same below. 



Alternate layers of ore and charcoal are put into it, and pump bel- 

 lows are kept incessantly at work during four days less one night ; after 

 ten or twelve hours blowing, the tin begins to run off. The coke is 

 extracted at intervals and is afterwards again subjected to the action of 

 the furnace. 



The produce during the above period is from 5\ to 6 bahars. 



They then take a day's respite. 



It has been stated that the government charges, on tin, an export 

 duty of about two dollars per bahar. This, however, is only the case 

 when return is made in specie. If in goods and provided the quantity 

 purchased exceeds 20 bahars, the duty is 125 dollars, which is not 

 increased although the transaction should be carried to a much larger 

 amount. The contractor, or more properly agent receives one per 

 cent, on the sales w r hen the king does not direct the governor to make 

 a specific contract, and the inferior officers of government and the 

 chief himself must be propitiated by presents. 



Eight per cent, is charged on the bartering of goods. 



The Siamese possess several small ports northward of Junkceylon, 

 These are now only visited by petty trading native prowsf . 



Although Junkceylon is under the Phoonga government yet being 

 a well known island and one where a considerable trade centered before 

 the British got settlements to the eastward, I have preferred treating 

 it separately. 



Phoonga. 



On the 1st June, 1824, our captain at my request weighed and 

 stood out of Junkceylon harbour. 



Many majestic rocks (laid down confusedly in some maps under the 

 name Tover), were the marks by which we steered, as no one on board 



* Pittong Takre-un, Sappam, Ban ke rim, Ban dawn, Ban na nai, Ban 

 Saphan, Ban nay any, Ban saho, Ban thoongyang, Kamra, Kitoong, Chaloony, 

 Pakkla, Tillony near Papra, and Phoklar. The tin ore* smelted at Phoonga is 

 brought from the following plac-s lying on the coast of Tenasserim above 

 Papra, Ta/coa pa, Powang, and Kra. The ores from these places are consi- 

 dered inferior to the Salang ore. 



1* These places beginning from Junkceylon and at Papra are Naikeemo, Phok- 

 lawe, Bandaun, Bangkhree on a small river, (the Bangir or Baniyer of the 

 maps,) Nashooee, Takoa Kong., Bandala, Banyklok, Pre Koosoom, Krad, Pook- 

 hak Takoapa, Rendong. 



